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Bid Fairness Checker

Bathroom Remodeling bid fairness checker.

Bathroom remodels sprawl. The bid says one number, then tile, glass, and while-we're-in-there carry it somewhere else. Nationally a fair mid-range remodel runs $21,838 to $27,097 in 2026, against $19,890 to actually deliver. Paste the whole bid, line items and all. The checker anchors on the full project so the extras can't hide.

Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Run Your Bid

Is your bathroom remodeling bid fair?

Cost index by David Olson · reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson · 2026-07-23
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Type the number off the estimate, or drag the bar. The gauge below shows where it lands.
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Analyzed estimates are stored anonymized (names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails stripped) to improve the benchmark. No account, no tracking.
National Average
Within the fair range.
Fair range
Fair range$21,838 to $27,097
Cost to deliver$19,890
Typical market bid$24,370
Your bid$24,370
Implied margin18%
Fair range. Cost to deliver is the break-even, the red line on the gauge, not the price to demand. A fair bid sits in the green band above it: most jobs land at a 15 to 22 percent margin on the bid, roughly 18 to 28 percent over the cost to deliver, leaner or richer by trade and market. Contractors earn that, and they should: nobody works for free, and if the job were easy you would not need one.
What Is Inside the Number
Labor$5,977 (24.5%)
Materials$7,838 (32.2%)
Permit$411 (1.7%)
Overhead$5,664 (23.2%)
Margin$4,480 (18.4%)
Cost to deliver plus a fair margin = $24,370
How the Verdict Works

Built, not guessed.

The checker rebuilds the job from primary data: Craftsman hours at your metro's loaded BLS wage, FRED PPI materials, the verified permit fee, and NAHB overhead. That sum is the cost to deliver. A fair bid sits 8 to 14 percent over it at the lean floor and 24 to 45 percent at the premium ceiling, scaled by your trade and metro. Read the full methodology.

FAQ

Bid checker questions.

What is a fair price for bathroom remodel (mid-range)?+
In 2026, a fair bathroom remodel (mid-range) bid runs $21,838 to $27,097 nationally. The cost to deliver sits at $19,890, and an honest margin lands roughly 10 to 36 percent above it depending on the metro.
What does the checker compare my bid against?+
Every benchmark is built, not scraped: Craftsman labor hours times BLS metro wages with burden, FRED PPI-adjusted materials, verified city permit fees, and NAHB overhead. The verdict places your number on a ladder from below cost to premium against the fair band for your metro.
Is a bid far below the cost to deliver a good deal?+
Usually the opposite. A bid below the cost to deliver means someone is cutting scope, insurance, or quality to get there, and the checker flags it as below cost rather than calling it a bargain.
Why should the contractor make a profit on top of the cost to deliver?+
Because nobody works for free. Cost to deliver is the break-even: labor, materials, permits, and overhead with zero profit in it. The 18 to 28 percent most contractors keep over that, a 15 to 22 percent margin on the bid, pays for the license, the insurance, the warranty callback, and the judgment you are actually hiring. If the job were easy, you would not need a contractor at all. Use the floor to spot padding, not to demand free work.
My bid is one lump sum. Can it still be graded?+
Yes. A single turnkey number anchors against the full remodel benchmark for your metro and tier. Itemized bids grade deeper, line by line, but a lump sum still gets a real verdict.
City Benchmarks

Check it against your city's numbers.

The fair band moves with local wages and permit fees. Your city's page shows the numbers the checker grades against, service by service.

AtlantaAustinBaltimoreBostonCharlotteChicagoColumbusDallasDenverHoustonKansas CityLas VegasLos AngelesMiamiMinneapolisNashvilleNew YorkOrlandoPhiladelphiaPhoenixPortlandRaleighRichmondSan AntonioSan DiegoSeattleSpringfieldSt LouisTampa
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-07-23